Canadian HR Reporter

Competencies, collaboration in spotlight at CPHR Canada T his will be a big year for Chartered Professionals in Human Re- sources (CPHR) Canada as it works on enhancing its competency framework, says CEO Anthony Ariganello. "The last time we kicked that around was maybe eight years ago, and the profession has evolved immensely… so we're in the middle of that right now." Rodney Miller, president and CEO of CPHR Alberta, is chairing the steering group and meeting with stakeholders in every province, he says, "really going through what works, what doesn't work. What are some of the changes that have come to the profession that we need to be aware of? And how should we enhance our competency framework and map so that, ultimately, our members going forward will continue to be well suited to fit the roles that are required in managing HR? So that's something we foresee probably lasting another six to nine months." Also on the agenda is greater collaboration with Ontario's Human Resources Professionals Association, he says. "We've identified a couple of projects, possibly, that we might be able to work on," says Ariganello. "We haven't talked about reuniting or anything like that, because the challenge right now is the differences in designations — we're committed to ours and they're committed to theirs — so it's kind of hard, but maybe in time we'll find a bridge of some sort." As an example, there's the possibility of a joint research paper on topics that resonate with all stakeholders within human resources, regardless of their designation, he says, such as an aging workforce, the gig economy or artificial intelligence (AI). "There are subject matters that I think we can definitely highlight and research to- gether, and then issue something jointly, which I think would then demonstrate that the profession is trying to unite in some form." Another consideration is a Canada-wide research study on compensation for the HR profession, says Ariganello. "We've actually done one with every province but Ontario and I think they've done one as well, but it'd be nice to capture every one of our members jointly... If we did that collectively, then we can truly say it represents all of Canada." CPHR Canada is also participating in a global survey with the national HR associa- tions in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, he says. But with the change of government in British Columbia, CPHR Canada has had to slow down some of its government relations, says Ariganello. "We've got our action plan for next year as well, to meet with them and continue our deliberations with respect to how we can help support a number of agendas… We're on their radar, we've been consulted, and asked to participate in a number of sessions and events… so we're clearly making some inroads with them. And that's a positive sign." FEATURES HR ASSOCIATIONS 2019 was another busy year for Canada's HR associations as they focused on their own members while collaborating nationally on competencies, branding and research. Credit: cheda (Shutterstock) Working together for the profession CPHR BC & Yukon faces new challenge with Professional Governance Act W hen it comes to self-regulation, Char- tered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) British Columbia & Yukon has a new challenge on its plate — the Professional Gov- ernance Act (PGA). Passed in late 2018, the act has very specific re- quirements for professional bodies such as accountants and engineers, who are not happy because they have their own acts regulating their profession, says Anthony Ariganello, presi- dent and CEO of the HR association. "ere's a lot of furor over everyone having their own legislation, which is what has hap- pened in B.C., because there were roughly 53 regulated professions. And, of course, now, [the NDP government is] trying to put this under the PGA with much more control… and the existing bodies are complaining." With the PGA, professional bodies must only have members who are regulated by the act, he says. at would mean roughly 40 per cent of CPHR BC & Yukon's members would not count anymore if the association was self-regulated because they are not CPHRs or are students. "We'd have to lose those. And that would be a huge toll; we wouldn't be able to survive financially. We're not that big, and then imagine the dues, how they would have to go up for CPHRs — probably double." As a result, the 6,300-member CPHR BC & Yukon doesn't really want to be in the middle of that at this point, says Ariganello. "Maybe we need to see how it all falls out. And it's sad." In the time being, the association will continue to be "in their face" in terms of telling the government who the HR association is and what they do, he says. "But until we know for sure whether we can get our own act, we don't want to be under the PGA." As for the local economy, British Columbia has done well, but it's slowing down, says Arig- anello. While the NDP government has forecasted huge revenues coming out of the continued real estate boom, with the higher property tax, there was a big correction for this past year. "Now they're seeing a huge deficit in the revenue," he says. "I think that's going to cause some deficiencies, with respect to budget."

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